Since we get all these repeated threads, this will be the one for discussion of soundcards for production. I'll edit all of the recomendations here (w/ links, prices, & etc).

Be sure to include the best details as possible.

JaY

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Okay, well I'll start the ball rolling with a quick note to anybody who is starting production and would like to know what to look for.

The more popular brand choices in soundcards include stuff like M-Audio, especially the audiphile and the detla 44 and 66 are also good. Other popular cards are the terratec, echo, the RME cards, and the E-mu cards are supposed to be quite good also.

While in the past, the Creative cards have been bashed for their abiltiy to be used in music creation, the newer ones seem a little more promising. Still, I would prefer to go with one of the more reputable brands such as those mentioned before.

Things to look for in a card include midi connections incase you plan on using a hardware synth, as well as the number of in and out audio ports that you will need. Stereo outs are a must, but you might want more ins in you plan on hooking up hardware to it. The card must also have ASIO drivers in order to handle softsynths properly. ASIO drivers are renowned for their low latency which is the delay between when you trigger a note and when the note is played. I think the general rule of thumb was below 10ms was acceptible but these days it is more common to have less than that. The converters in the card are important in recording of audio so better converters is a plus. The card should read and playback at least 24/96. A card that does not support true 24bit should not be purchased.

www.midiman.com
www.emu.com
http://produceren.terratec.net/index.php?pgid=3
http://www.rme-audio.com/english/hammer/index.htm

Hope this help is for someone starting. I sorry for my bad english.

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1 out of every 4 people in this country are mentally disturbed. Look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem okay, then you're the one.

I personally use an Echo MIA soundcard. This is no longer made but has been replaced with the MIA-MIDI. Yep this has midi and mine doesn't. Thats the only difference.

This card is used by many magazine reviewers as a benchmark device because of its good SN ratio.

Heres the spec.

quote:

Mia - Audio Performance Analog Inputs (x2 balanced TRS):  Frequency Response: 10Hz – 22kHz, ±0.5dB  Dynamic Range: 106dB A-weighted  THD+n: <0.001%, 20Hz–22kHz  Nominal Input Level: +4 dBu  Maximum Input Level: +18dBu  Input Impedence: 10K Analog Outputs (x2 balanced TRS):  Frequency Response: 10Hz – 22kHz, ±0.5dB  Dynamic Range: 106dB A-weighted  THD+n: <0.002%, 20Hz–22kHz  Nominal Output Level: +4 dBu  Maximum Output Level: +18dBu Mia - Hardware  Host Interface: PCI bus card  PCI bus master interface  Two balanced ¼” analog inputs with precision 24-bit 64x oversampling analog-to-digital converters  Two balanced ¼” analog outputs with high performance 24-bit 128x oversampling digital-to-analog converters  S/PDIF digital I/O with up to 24-bit resolution  On-board 24-bit Motorola DSP  24-bit data resolution maintained throughout entire signal path  Multiple sample rates from 8kHz to 96kHz

I've had the latency down to 2ms @96KHz in Cubase. I'm running it with an XP2000 chip and have had no problems.

It comes with drivers for WDM, ASIO and GSIF.

More info at Echo Digital Audio Corporation

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Latest Track After The Storm

I use an Echo Mia. It is just a basic recording soundcard, 2 1/4 inputs, 2 1/4 outputs. It sounds good and it is only 200 bucks.

Last edited by illectricpunk on Jun-29-2004 at 06:55

Does Sound Blaster Live is bad card to work Cubase and Reason ?

could anybody tell me if this soundcard is any good? http://videoen.terratec.net/modules...01bef86e83257c7

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http://soundcloud.com/subtara

quote:

Originally posted by Subtle could anybody tell me if this soundcard is any good? http://videoen.terratec.net/modules...01bef86e83257c7

Well. Depends on what your after. That one's mainly a surround soundcard. 7.1 tho

quote:

Originally posted by Cryogenic Well. Depends on what your after. That one's mainly a surround soundcard. 7.1 tho

yeah.. that is what I feared... i have no needs for 7.1 surround, and that is the only soundcard at my local dealer and my wishlist`s DMX 6 Fire soundcard isnt available anymore.. and yeah.. I am looking for a soundcard for production, that has external box, and optical line in and out...!

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http://soundcloud.com/subtara

might be a good idea for people with different soundcards to give a little more detailed review of it, how good you think it works and so on

I'll start off with the RME Hammerfall DIGI 9652

this card is a bit more expensive than cards like audiophile and such but if you wan't to connect more than one synth or other input this is a very nice card to go for.
One drawback with the card (if you really can call it a drawback) is that the standardcard only comes with optical inputs and outputs so you need an analogue expansion for it to work with your speakers and synths.

Overall I think it's a very nice soundcard but it's total overkill if youre just going software or even one synth.

I bought mine second hand for about 220$ and the expansion costs about 150$ second hand.
if you can find them new I think the price lies around 550$

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quote:

Originally posted by davedresden i suggest getting the gabriel & dresden prog-a-minute. in 3 easy steps you too could change the face of dance music. batteries not included. - dave

quote:

Originally posted by Subtle yeah.. that is what I feared... i have no needs for 7.1 surround, and that is the only soundcard at my local dealer and my wishlist`s DMX 6 Fire soundcard isnt available anymore.. and yeah.. I am looking for a soundcard for production, that has external box, and optical line in and out...!

Not available? Are you sure?
I just got one a couple of weeks ago.

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Latest releases:
Endless Cycles [Capital Heaven]
The Charlatan [Morphosis]

Choosing sound card on what spec. I should focus ?

Side note:

What most people don't know. In the end if your going to be connecting your equipment to an amp, you probably won't need more than one input & output (outputs) since the amp will have plenty for use.

Also most people don't know that pro soundcards use RCA jacks (seperate jacks for right & left), speakers like Creative & etc cannot be used w/ out an adaptor.

JaY

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